Looking for a simple and stress-free way to protect cats against ticks and fleas?
Discover the Stress-Free Secrets of Credelio Cat
Cats are complex creatures and as a result, owners can find medicating cats at home daunting. However, by considering the natural behaviours of cats, we can develop medicines which help create a stress-free experience for cats and their owners.
Oral dosing formulations, such as tablets that can be given at home, are convenient when the experience is stress-free – this is where using a formulation developed specifically for cats is key. Credelio has been designed specifically for cats, making treatment time simpler by providing a tiny, flavoured, chewable, monthly tick and flea treatment.1-3 Available in two different sizes, Credelio provides the right monthly dose for cats and kittens alike.
Pieces of the Palatability Puzzle: How Do We Design Tablet Formulations for Cats?
Firstly, different variations of flavours, smells, shapes, sizes & textures are assessed for palatability using placebo tablets. Once the placebo tablet has been developed, the active ingredients can then be added and then re-assessed to see if it is still as acceptable.
TextureTextures which produce a ‘crunch’ frequency that mimics the crunch of small mammal bones have been found to be particularly appealing!
FlavourCats may naturally want to chew a tablet so some will have a flavour 'coating' whilst others will have flavourings all the way through like Credelio Cat.
SmellAromatic compounds may be used by cats to assess and taste their food.
SizeTablets which are small and similar in size to cat treats or kibble may be easier to give.
How Is Palatability Assessed?
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) set guidelines on how to assess the palatability of veterinary products – they include smell and taste, as well as physical characteristics such as shape, size, texture, hardness (‘crunch’) and colour. For a product to be labelled palatable it must achieve over 70% acceptance (voluntary consumption within 2 minutes), which is a high bar to achieve given the highly individual preferences of cats; no newer products have achieved this since the guidelines were effective in 2022!
What's the Secret to Credelio?
1. Flavoured for cats using aromatic compounds, yeast and vanilla. These compounds include different layers of flavour and smell, including numerous amino acids such as glutamic acid, which contribute to the appeal of Credelio to cats. Credelio Cat is ISFM 'Easy to Give' Approved.
2. Sized and formulated specifically for cats and kittens, with just one tablet needed for cats of 0.5-2kg and 2-8kg (use the appropriate combination of tablets for cats >8.0kg).
How To Offer Credelio to Cats
Credelio is a small and tasty tablet that can be given in a way that is stress-free for both owners and cats, which means you'll find that different cats and owners have different ways of giving Credelio that works best for them.
You could try offering Credelio alongside the cats favourite treat, but they may prefer it on its own, or as it should be giving within 30 minutes of feeding, you can try it with their normal food. It may be worth offering Credelio when the cat is most hungry, which is often at breakfast time. One option is placing it on the cats first meal of the day.
Cats are inquisitive and sensitive creatures so they may investigate the tablet first before eating it later in the meal. Make sure to leave them to it while they are eating and don't remove the tablet if they don't take it straight away.
Direct your cat owners to visit our pet owner website for post-prescription information on how to administer Credelio to cats: click here
Credelio Cat Stress-Free Guarantee
A recent survey of over 2,500 cat owners demonstrated that they should be offered a choice of formulations where possible.6 The ‘Stress-Free Guarantee’ supports you in offering choice to cat owners and is there to support owners who try the treatment but decide it is not the right one for them or their cat.
To find out more about the Stress-Free Guarantee, please contact your local Elanco Territory Business Manager or contact us here.
The full terms and conditions can be found here.
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Credelio Cat Infographic
Veterinary infographic summarising Credelio for Cats - the tiny tasty tablet for cats. PDF
Credelio Cat Vet Detailer
Comprehensive detailer to help educate vets on Credelio For Cats. PDF.
Ticks and Fleas in Cats Social Media Toolkit
Toolkit of pre-written posts for your social media for cat owners to consider tablets for ticks and fleas!
*Would you be interested in giving your cat(s) a small monthly tablet for ticks and fleas? Please assume it was recommended by your veterinarian. Prefer it over other methods · Prepared to try it · Not interested
1. Kadence, slide 34. April 2017.
2. Kynetec, Survey of 282 cat owners in Europe currently using topical spot on or collar, about treatment preference for flea and tick control slide 10. March 2018.
3. The Behavioural Architects. October 2017.
4. Pekel A Y, et al 2020. Journal of Applied Animal Research 48:1, 281 – 292.
5. Scott J et al. Chemical Senses (2023)Volume 48; 1-17.
6. Taylor S et al. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2022 24(12):1283-1293.
7. Data on File, Credelio Sampling Scheme, 2019.
8. Cavalleri D et al. Parasites & Vectors 2018 11:411.
For further information on the Credelio Cat Stress Free Guarantee speak to your Elanco Territory Business Manager. The terms and conditions can be found here.
